[quote=5yearwaiter][quote=flu]Ok… So I discussed this issue with a few friends, and went ahead and called a few stealers and some subcontracted car rental places and BMW of North America.
My first go around resulted in the following information:
1. BMW is offering to give people affected by this recall a rental car for up to $55/day, rented on a per month basis. You have visit a dealer, and sign a bunch of paperwork, and agree that you will not drive your affected car until after it has been repaired.
2. There is no concrete ETA on when the airbag modules will be available, but some of the dealerships are saying that for us (California), it will most likely be 2017, since priority will be given to people in humid climates.
3. No injury/death has occurred in any BMW’s (yet) as a result of this problem. Keyword is yet.
4. There currently is a stop sales on all preowned BMWs affected by this recall. Dealerships are not allowed to sell any preowned BMW with this issue.
#4 has interesting implications for folks planning to do a trade in…
Apparently, Honda and Toyota have a similar thing going on, because the fleet rental agency I called in Carlsbad referred me to the fleet office in Encinitas and Clairemont, because they said the Carlsbad one deals more of the rentals from toyota and honda customers.
So if you are affected by this recall, you have to ask/insist before they give it to you.
Hmm. A free rental until 2017. No maintenance, no repairs on wear and tear items on the rental, unlimited mileage… and if you own multiple cars, you can temporarily stop your insurance on the recalled car that you won’t be driving. (Your insurance policy probably says for a car rental, any policy on any car would cover the rental, like mine does..)….When I have time, I’m going to be calling BMW NA to ask to see if they’ll offer a direct reimbursement to me and/or to see if there’s any comps from #4 as a result of accelerated depreciation…not that I was going to ever trade my car in.[/quote]
More update on this : I called BMW Encinitas and they de brief that this is only precautionary but not much of anything danger. Upon asking the other alternative if I am not feeling comfortable to drive my car until the airbag removed, and I openly asked what alternative we can get, then very inconveniently brought up the point they can give $48 max and that is also from Enterprise Rental car. I am not really understand why this kind of bind over with particular rental company? Why not even they allow us to rent some good cars with the same amount of money they are ready to give and sure we do get few better cars from others with the same money.
I am not sure whom we can reach out to finalize this issue.[/quote]
Actually, I didn’t want to name dealerships but when I called 3 of the 4 dealerships here in SD, that one was the only one that initially didn’t give me an honest answer. They told me “not to worry”. BMW of SD was the first one to mention that I didn’t feel comfortable driving my own car, BMW NA has a rental reimbursement program and they explained to me how it works. What’s interesting is that BMW NA is saying $55/day, while as some dealers are saying anywhere between $44-48. So….. maybe this is something you want to take up with BMW NA directly.
“There are many plans in the making to help our customers and our dealers get through the recall,” a BMW spokesman said. “We understand the urgency, and the details are being finalized as quickly as possible.”
In addition to loaner vehicles, BMW is expected to authorize dealers to use vehicles from rental fleets and reimburse them up to $55 a day for those vehicles, according to a source briefed on the matter.
In the February notice, BMW advised dealers that customers with recalled vehicles from the 2012 model year and newer be put into loaner vehicles and “customers with [2011 model and older] … vehicles may be offered off-lease loaners in lieu of a rental vehicle.”
BMW also is paying dealers additional money for 2016 models they put into the loaner fleet to aid with the recall: $1,500 for 2-series, X1 and i3 REx extended-range vehicles; $3,000 for 3- and 4-series models; $4,000 for X3 and X4 crossovers; and $4,500 for the 5-series sedan and X5 and X6 crossovers.
The recall support allowances “will help to offset both registration and depreciation expenses,” for the service loaner vehicles, BMW told dealers in the February notice.
BMW has told dealers it also will pay between $400 and $650 a month — depending on the vehicle and its age — in floorplan assistance.
The company also will pay $300 for the inspection of certified used vehicles and $200 for noncertified used vehicles once the stop-sale ends.
BMW is promising to “offer special low APR” rates on all affected 2012 and newer models after they are repaired.
In a related matter, Mercedes-Benz said it also is working out a reimbursement plan for dealers. Just 475 vehicles in dealer inventory have been affected by a stop-sale order because of the Takata recall, according to a Mercedes spokesman.
They include 2004-15 Mercedes vehicles and 2007-14 Daimler vans.
Mercedes-Benz USA will help dealers offset flooring and depreciation related to the recall, according to the spokesman. It also will allow dealers to take affected vehicles in on trade, he said.
